Rotary potato-sorter.



T. H. SEXTON.

A ROTARY PoTATo soRTER.

4. 1916992, Patented Jan. 25,*1916.

Y. 3 SHEETS SHEET 1.

, QWNMNN Nm T. H. SEXTON.

ROTARY POTATO SORTER.

APPLlcAnoN mso mms, |914.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

T. HjsI-:xToNI ROTARY POTATO SORTER.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN|26| i914.

` Patented. Jan.25,19116.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

improve and simpli g iran sa *.ATENT THEODORE H. SEXTON, 0F GARDEN, MICHIGAN.

ROTARY POTATO-SGBTER.

incassa.

Garden, in the county of Delt'aLState of Michigan, have invented certain newf and useful Improvements in Rotary Potato-Sorters; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, -and exact description of the invention; such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This, invention relates to potato sorters and has special reference to an improved form of cylindrical potato sorter.

The principal object of the invention is to l the general construction of devices of this character. Y

A second obfject of the invention is to provide, in a device of this character, an improved sorting and cleaning mechanism.

A third object of the invention is to pro; vide means whereby the smaller potatoes may be delivered separately from the larger lpotatoes whenY no receptacles are used for u,

collecting the same.

A fourth object of the invention is to provide an improved support and drive for the cylinder of such a sorter.

With the above and other objects-in view the invention consists in' general of certain novel details of construction and combinar, tion of parts hereinafter fully described,

'- illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

and specically claimed. Y

' ln the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like partsin the several views, and Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine showing the same tilted intoposition for digging the potatoes, the elevator being attached. Fig. 2 is a plan view vof the machine partly in section, the cylinder being shown in a horizontal position. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail Vview showing a lportion of the vsorter and certain of the adjacent parts. Fig. is a section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the manner of securing certain of the grating bars. Fig. 7 is a detail view showing a portion of the driving mechanism. Fig. 8 isa detail view showing certain clutch mechanism used in connection with the driving mechanism. Fig. 9 'is a detail section through a portion of the guide or chute for the small potatoes. Fig. 10 is a partial plan view of the part shown in F 9.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1915.

' application mea January 2e, 1914. serial no'. 814,495.

in the present embodiment of the invention there is provided a revolving cylinder consisting of three main parts indicated -respectively at 10, 11 and 12. l

The part 10 consists of a front band 13 and a rear band 14 between which extend the rods 15. ln order to secure these rods to the iband each of these bands is provided'with a pair of spaced rows of openings 16 and each 65 rod has its'end downwardly bent as/.at 1 7 and passes through an opening of one of the rows. 'The other row of openings receives the shan'ls of the eye members 18 whichpass over the rods so that the rods are thais secured to each of the bands at two points, the device thus being locked securely in position. lt is, of course, to b e understood that the rods have their ends riveted to the band by upsetting as are also the Shanks of the eye "'nembers 18.

r[he portion 11 of the cylinder constitutes the means for sorting out the potatoes beneath a given size and this portion of the cylinder is arranged so that the openings between the bars may be adjusted. Thus it is possible to regulate the size of the potatoes which are sorted out. The band 14 forms the end band for the front end of this device while a band 19 forms the rear band for this portion of the device. Each of the bands 14 and 19 is provided in its edge with a series of recesses 20 wherein are received the pintles 21 of slats 22. rlhese pintles are in alinement near one edge of the respective slat and spacedfrom the forward pintle is a third pintle 22 which is arranged to enter a re'- spective slot 23 formed in a band 24 which surrounds the band 14 adjacent its edge and is movable thereon. The band 24 is held in adjusted relation on the band 14 by means of a suitable bolt and nut as indicated at 25 and it will be obvious thahby loosening this bolt and nut theband 24 may be rotated with reference to the band 14 so* that the distance between the slats may be varied and that the bands 13 and 14 while the rod 27 may extend through the flange of the channel and have its end riveted thereto by upsettingsaid end. In this marmer the sweeps 26 are arranged radially about the axis of the cylinder. yBetween the bands`13 and 14 there is also provided a band 29 which is Similar inform to the band 19 and has the rods 15 secured thereto by means of eye 10 @members 18 inthe same manner 1n which .gthe eye members hold the rods to the bands v .F214 and 13. Extending aroundthe inside of 'the cylinder and firmly secured to the bands 13, 14, 19, and 29 are a series of spirally arranged angle irons 30 forming anl auger. It is preferred that two or more spiralsbe used as this is found advantageous in practice. his auger, as the cylinder revolves, carries the. potatoes from the frontend of said cylinder to the sweqeps 26 at the/rear thereof, provided the same are of sufficient size, and causes the small potatoes to work up over the cleaning cylinder 10 Which separates the dirt therefrom to the sorting cyl inder 11 so that these potatoes may drop between the slats ofithesorting cylinder. It is to be observed that by reason of the construction of these augers from the angle iron and the spiral arrangement thereof they stifl'en the entire structure and make the cylinder very rigid throughout. It is also to` be understood, for reasons that will be hereinafter explained, the front portions of the'augers are diminished in height and in order to compensate for the diminished height I place at the front 'of cylinder 10 a series of short auger blades 31, as can clearly be seen by reference to Fig. 2. These short auger blades not only increase and quicken the conveying capacity of the cylinder but also aid in quickly spreading the potatoes and earth as they are deliveredto the cylinder and thus greatly facilitate the separa` tion of the earth from the potatoes.

In order to support the cylinder so that it .may revolve about its axis I provide the cradles which are indicated in general at, 32. and 33.v Each of these cradles' is provided with {langes-'34 which are'bolted to the 1ongitudinally extending portions ,35' of the main or tilting frame, the front ends of the` portion 35 being connected by any integral; arch member 36. Each of the cradle mem# bers is'provided with a longitudinally. ex-

vtending slot 37 and with spaced. openings through which extend short shafts 38 carrying/rollers which engage against the webs of the respective.channels`19 and 29, theflanges ofm'said channels serving to prevent' longitudinal displacementl of the c linderwith reference to said rollers. For t e purof the cadles are providdwith the oil holes 40. Roller bearings 41 are also provided onv .the sides ofthe cradle membersso4 as to .oil holes or openings 42 are preferably provided with suitable spring covers 43 as can be clearly seen by reference to Fig. 3.

The ends of -memberfv 32 have extending outwardly therefrom the stub axles 44 whereon are mounted the ground wheels 44', It is to be observed that the cradle 32 is so located as to be slightly forward of the center of gravity of the machine so that it may be readily tilted about an axis passing through the centers of the ground wheels. Mounted on the outer ends of the stub axles is a U-shaped frame 45 which is preferably termed thedraft frame. Pivotally connected to this frame is a fronttruck 46 and to the upper end of the front truck is connected the draft tongue 47 while the truck carries the usual clevis 48 for 'the attachment of draft animals.. This front truck 46 is provided `with the front wheels 49 and these wheels serve to carry the Weight of the forward part of the device and hold the draft frame 45-in fixed angular relation to the sur-I secured to said draft frame 45. Extending from the' rock 4shaft 52 'is a rock arm 53 which is connected by means of a link-54 with the front of the frame 45. Upon fthe -rock shaft 51 is mounted a latch lever 55 having a handle -56 and being equipped with the usual latcharrangement, as indicated at 57 so' thatthe latch lever 55may be locked in any desired .position on the quadrant 50. By means of this arrangement the frontfof the tilting frame may be raised .or lowered as desired and in order to permit of the easy operation of the tilting frame the front arch 36 is made arcuate inside elevation as can be clearly seen byvreference to F ig. 1 and upon\ the draft frame 45 are provided the 'brackets 58 which carry the rollers 59, the

latter bearing against the lfront arch 36 of the tilting frame 35.

Inorder to rotate' the/cylinder ofthe machine one of the ground wheels 44 has con nected to its spokes a series of brackets 60 which serve to support a large beveled gear 61 which meshes with a bevel pinion 62 mounted on a shaft 63 forming part of a bracket 64 secured to the tilting frame 35.130

fixed upon the band per ring 69 wherein works a collar 7() which This bevel pinion 62 is freely revoluble with reference to the shaft 63 and the end of the bevel inion is formed with\ the at piece 65 having teeth which 'are adapted to be engaged by clutch teeth 66 fixed upon a pinion 67 which meshes, in turn, with a "gear 68 14. The gear 267 is furthermore provided with a grooved ship- .of the machine over the ground will only cause the pinion 62 to revolve idly while if the clutch members 65 and 66 are engaged by properk manipulation of the latch lever the motion of the machine over the ground vwill cause rotation of the pinion 67 and consequently of the gear 68 which, being connected to the cylinder will rotate the cylinder on` its rollers. I s

For the purpose of delivering the large5 potatoes to the side of the machine there is prvided, beneath the sweeps and in such position as to be worked pver by said sweeps,

an apron 77 which extends to one side and is there provided with a delivery portion 78 from, which the potatoes fall to the ground when the elevator is not in use or, .which delivers the potatoes to the boot of` the elevator as will be hereinafter explained when the latter isin use.

For the purpose of delivering the.small potatoes in an even row centrally-of the machine there is provided beneath the portion 11 of the cylinder a pair of aprons 79 .which onv the ame and are'separated beneath the axis of thecylinf der by a space 80. so that the small potatoes falling lfrom the separatorll drop onto one ,orthe'vother of theseaprons' and roll down pass out between the edge ofthe'ftwo aprons. v

Secured above the cylinder is a conveyer troughl 81,.thesame being connected to the tllting frame by the supplementary frame members 82. These supplementary frame members 82 furthermore serve tosupport the shaft 83 at the front of the machine and the respective shafts 84 and 85 at the rear of sald machine. On each of these shafts there P1s provided a sprocket 86W and a sprocket conveyer chain 87 extends@ around v these sprockets 86.. This sprocket 'conveyer chain is provided with spaced links 88 having raised: portions 88%/ whereoxr are mounted 'arms 88? which are"y normally drawn togetherl by means.l of a spring 88. These arms are provided with cam projections 88d which, when engaged by the teeth of the sprocket wheel force .the arms open. lt is to be noted that the lower front' sprocket 86 is arranged directly over the shovel so that the arms are open d at this point to grasp the vines and are permitted to close so that the chain moves backward around the rear sprocket and the chain tightening sprocket 8 8t the rear sprocket e \\serving 'the dual purpose of a chain tightener and also to further the freeing of the vines at this point. Thence the chain runs forward over the toothless guide wheel 88C. x

Above the cylinder the sprocket chain v87 is provided with a suitable' guard 89 to prevent accidental contact with ythe prongs 88 and injury thereby to the operator. In order to drive the conveyer chain the shaft is furthermore provided with a sprocket 90 which is connected by a chain 91 with a sprocket 92 looselyA mounted on the rel maining axle 44. The hub of the wheel 44 on this axle is provided with clutch teeth 93 which 'are adapted to engage the clutch 94 formed on the sprocket 92. This sprocket 92 is furthermore provided with a grooved shipper ring 95 whereinworks a shipper collar 96 connected by means of a link 97 with a shipper lever 98 provided with the usual latch arrangement 99, the latter working overa quadrant 100 fixed to the top of the cradle 32 on this side of the machine. lt will thus be obvious that nas the machine passes through the field the sprocket wheel 92 may be thrown into or outsof engagement with the respective wheel 44 and thereby the conveyer chain may be operated or not as desired.

For the purpose of digging the potatoes from the ground the tilting frame has at its forward end a semi-circular band passing under and spaced from the forward end of the frame as indicated at 101. Secured to ,this band is a shovel 102. Attached to the shovel are the spring arms 101a kwhich constitute vine guides so that in operation as the chain passes around the sprocket wheel close enough together at their rear ends to guide the smallest vines into an upright position, said guides being furthermore suivciently flexible toallow the largest bunches of vines to pass between themv thus making these members autbmatically adjustable to all sizes of vines. e v

The elevator proper consists ofa U-shaped chute 104 which issecured to the tilting frame adjacent the lower end of the chute by a bracket .105, the bracket being adjustably attached to the tilting frame by means of lsuitable bolts and nuts. At the front pf the y i machine a brace frame 106a consisting of slde members latticed together as shown is used and the feet of these side members are secured to the tilting frame while the upper ioo ros

these guides which are tapering springs, set

vcured thereto.

end thereof is secured to the chute 4104. At the upper end of this chute 104 ,is a shaft 105 whereon is a roller 106. At the .lower end of the chute 104 is a shaft 107 whereon is'a suitable roller 108 around the rollers 106 and 108 extends a belt 109 provided with the usual conveyer flights 110 suitably se- On the shaft 107 is furthermore a sprocket 111 which is connected by means of a sprocket chain 112 to a sprocket 113 carried on a shaft 114 supported in suitable bearings on the conveyer chute and on this shaft 114 there is provided a further sprocket 115 over which the chain 91 passes so that as the chain 91 is moved to operate the potato top conveyer it, at the same time, operates the main conveyer. The chute 104 is furthermore provided with a guide 115a so thatl the returning or lower flight of the conveyer will not drag and scrape against the ground wheel on that side of the ma chine. At the bottom of the conveyer lis the usual boot 116 and this boot is provided with an extension 117 so that potatoes delivered from the extension 78 will dropl into this extension and kthus be delivered to the flights of the conveyer. At the top of the conveyer there is provided a hood 118 and fastened to this hood is a collar 119 which carries a spout 120 in the form of an open trough and this trough is provided with a handle 121 by meansl of which it can be swung from side to side so that no matter in which -direction the machine may be driven about a field the potatoes can be deliveredto either side thereof at wil1. For the purpose of tightening the chain 91 there is provided the usual belt or sprocket chain tightener 122.

The machine is preferably provided with a drivers seat 123 which is -supported on suitable supports 124 and this seat is so arranged in the usual manner as to be adjustable laterally of the braces thus enabling the device to be used either with the seat arranged centrally, as when the elevator is not attached, or to one side when the elevator is attached. Furthermore thefdraft frame is provided with\suitable brackets 125 to constitute rests for the feet of thei'driver.

In the operation of the device the same is driven through the field and when the proper point is reached, the frame is tilted v mtil the shovel will deliver the dug potaoes into the cylinder. The rst part of the i cylinder cleans the potatoes, the secondpart of the cylinder separates the large potatoes from the small potatoes while the space at the end Adelivers the large potatoes to the side of the machine from whence they are either taken up by the conveyr or deposited in a neat row along side the machine,fthe

small potatoes falling directlyin the center of the machine. When the coiveyer is used the same may be arranged to deliver to 4suit,n able bags', barrels or the like or it may deliver directly into a wagon driven along side of the potato harveste There has thus been provided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and of the character specified.

It is obvious that many minor changesv may be made in the form and construction of this invention Without departing from the material principles thereof. AIt is not therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is wished to include all such as come properlywithin the scope claimed.`

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a potato sorting machine, the combination with afpair of spaced circular bands,

of slats pivotally mounted in and extending between the same, sweeps secured to and ex`- tending outwardly from one of'said bands,

rods secured to and extending outwardly from the other of said bands, means for supporting said rods and a gear secured to the slidable thereon, a pintle on one end of each of said slats adjacent the other edge thereof and pivotally mounted in the last mentioned A band, whereby when the said band ismoved.

with relation to the first mentioned band on which it is mounted the slats will be swung i about the first mentioned pintles as a pivot and means for securing the slats in their adjustedA positions.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature;

in the presence of two witnesses. i, y TIj'EODORE I-I. SEXTON.

'Witnesses:

GEORGE G. SEX'roN, WILLIAM A. HUGHES. 

